Dash Cam Video Shows Dodge Charger Seconds Before Fatal Crash

Watch the video at the bottom of this post.

The St. Petersburg Police Department has released a video that shows the 2015 Dodge Charger involved in a fatal wreck Saturday morning just seconds before the crash occurred.

According to the agency, the incident unfolded just after 2 a.m. when members of the agency’s DUI squad spotted a car traveling at a high rate of speed heading eastbound on 4th Avenue North. An officer pursued the car and tried to stop it as it slowed to turn onto 2nd Street.

The Dodge’s driver, however, accelerated, sparking a brief chase.

While the dash cam video released Monday afternoon shows the police officer stopping, the Dodge took off. It proceeded to run a red light at 3rd Avenue North and ultimately struck the pedestrians as they were crossing 2nd Street in the north crosswalk of Central Avenue, an email from the agency to media stated.

Pedestrians Aaron Jerome Davis, 31, of Largo and Brian Lee LaFrance, 28, of St. Petersburg were crossing under a green signal when they were struck, the email stated.

Witnesses stopped in the southbound curb lane, just north of the crosswalk, watched as the Dodge passed, ran the red light and struck the two men, police said. LaFrance was sideswiped and sent to the pavement. Davis, however, was thrown onto the hood and windshield before he was vaulted over the vehicle’s roof.

Police say the Dodge continued to drive off, but struck two concrete light pillars, which ripped the right front wheel off the car.

“The Dodge continued scarping along, coming to a final rest just prior to 1st Avenue South,” police wrote.

The driver and passenger inside the Dodge then attempted to flee, but were caught with assistance from staff members of Push Ultra Lounge.

Jason Lanard Mitchell, 25, was charged with vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, aggravated fleeing and eluding, leaving the scene of a crash involving death and DUI with serious bodily injury. Mitchell, police said, made an escape attempt during DUI testing, but he didn’t get far.

Davis was pronounced dead at the scene. LaFrance was taken to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg in critical condition.

Mitchell was being held at the Pinellas County Jail on Monday. Additional charges including sale or delivery of cocaine, possession of cocaine and escape were also added to the list, jail records indicate.

Photo of the Dodge courtesy of the St. Petersburg Police Department/Booking photo of Mitchell courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

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